Mrs Herbert and her husband Andrew operate two feedlots with a combined 12,500-head capacity: Gundamain at Eugowra and Ladysmith at Wagga Wagga. 

Their business also includes fat lambs, wool growing, breeding Angus cattle, cropping, and hay and silage production.

Mrs Herbert is a passionate advocate of the Australian beef industry and agriculture more broadly and says she is excited to be part of a whole-of-industry project to define and track its sustainable practices.

“We cannot take Australia’s reputation for producing high-quality beef for granted,” she said.

“Consumers, customers, investors and other stakeholders, and even members of the public, increasingly want proof that our product is clean, green and sustainable.

“The Framework helps provide proof we’re meeting the promise that our animals are cared for and that our product is safe, nutritious and consistently high quality.”

Mrs Herbert thanked previous Sustainability Steering Group members and says she looks forward to building on the great work they’ve done to collect data, report on industry performance and prioritise industry focus.

The seven-member group chaired by Mrs Herbert includes business leaders from grass and grain-fed production, processing, marketing and live export.

They will be responsible for progressing the Framework, including addressing data gaps; refining some sustainability indicators; delivering the annual update; continuing to advise on related sustainability matters; and more.

Independent Chair of the Red Meat Advisory Council, Don Mackay, made the announcement at Red Meat 2018 and said the Expression of Interest process for the role was competitive.

Mr Mackay says Mrs Herbert is well known within industry and has demonstrated her leadership and strategic skills within her own business and as President of the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association.